Animal cage construction and method for construction panel therefore

ABSTRACT

An animal cage construction having a plurality of sides forming an enclosure. At least some of the sides are constructed of a wire fabric having at least one terminal edge inclined at angles to the direction in which the wires forming the fabric extend. The terminal edge is formed by predetermined ones of the wires being crimped to give the desired shape of the terminal edge.

United States Patent Van Huis Nov. 7, 1972 Primary Examiner-Aldrich F.Medbery Att0rney-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [72] Inventor:Robert L. Van Huis, Zeeland, Mich. [57] ABSTRACT [73] Assign; BigDutchmanlnc"ZeelandMich An animal cage construction having a pluralityof sides forming an enclosure. At least some of the sides [22] F'led:July 1971 are constructed of a wire fabric having at least one {211Appl. No.: 166,876 terminal edge inclined at angles to the direction inl which the wires forming the fabric extend. The ter- {521 U 8 119/17119/48 minal edge is formed by predetermined ones of the [51] ..A0l k31/06 wires being c'imped to give the desired Shape of the [58] Field ofSearch ..1 19/17, 18,45, 48 termmal edge 56] References Cited 11 Claims,4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,338,214 8/1967 Pockman,..119/48 ANIMAL CAGE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION PANELTHEREFORE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to animalcages, and more particularly, to poultry cages utilized for egg layinghens.

In conventional egg laying poultry cages, the cages are interconnectedin tandem fashion and fully enclosed by a bottom, top, front, back andsides formed of wire fabric which is constructed of a plurality ofparallel and perpendicularly intersecting wires. For strength, each wireis welded together at their points of traverse. Generally, an egg trayor trough is positioned along the lower front edge of the cages and thebottoms of the cages are inclined so that when an egg is layed, itsgravitational weight urges it down the inclined bottom into the tray.Thus, each cage in vertical cross-section is essentially trapezoidal inshape, and as result, the bottom terminal edge of the side panels ofeach cage are inclined to match the slope of the bottom of the cage.Thus, the side panels of each cage are also trapezoidal in shape, andbeginning with the bottom horizontal wire in each end wall, one or moreare non-parallel with the adjacent wire and hence not horizontal.

Although some cages are constructed of custommade side panels, it isuneconomical to make such side panels which at their inception have anon-rectilinear shape. Rather, the conventional way to mass producethese cages is to cut all components out of mass produced sheets orrolls of wire fabric of a desired width depending on the size and shapeof the cages. Under existing conventional ways, in order to achieve thetrapezoidal shape for the side panels, the wire fabric of a widthdetermined by the height of the front of the cage or the depth of thecage is simply cut at the requisite angle desired leaving loose ends ofwire which are cut back to the next welded intersection of wires. Thisconstruction leaves substantial gaps between welded intersections ofwires to which the bottom panel of the cage can be secured thusweakening the entire structure. A bottom wire may then be welded to eachof the remaining intersections. Alternatively, the bottom wire is joinedby wrapping the loose distended wires there around. In either instancethis takes additional time, labor and hence money.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a cage isconstructed so as to eliminate the disadvantages of the twoconstructions previously referred to. This invention permits the use ofmass-produced sheets or rolls of wire fabric while at the same timeproviding a side panel having a lowermost marginal edge constructed sothat the bottom panel can be secured thereto at closely spacedintervals.

The side panel proposed by this invention to be used in the cage isformed from a standard piece of wire fabric having horizontal andvertical components rigidly interconnected at their intersections.Selected ones of the vertical wires are crimped between the horizontalwires to form the desired shape of the panel. Specifically, the verticalwires from front to back are progressively crimped more and more to givethe desired slope to the lower marginal edge of the side panel. Thisprovides a poultry cage which can be constructed of standard wire fabricand at the same time permits the bottom panel of the cage to be securedat the welded intersection of each of the vertical wires to thelowermost horizontal wire.

The preformed wire fabric panel provided by this invention is quick andeasy to shape as compared to forming the panel by initially orientatingthe wires before welding. The panel also permits the securing of thebottom panel to the side panel at a substantially greater number ofpoints thus permitting the use of lesser gage wires for the bottompanel. This cage construction also produces a substantially stronger andrigid cage than heretofore has been possible with standard wire fabric.

, DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a panel ofwire fabric which has been cut and welded according to the teachings ofthe prior art;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a panel of wire fabric shaped accordingto this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a poultry cage having side panelsfabricated according to the teachings of the prior art shown in FIG. 1;and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a poultry cage having side panels shapedaccording to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following descriptionpertains specifically to an egg laying cage. However, it should beappreciated that the side panel utilized therein and the method formaking it may have many and varied applications.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 3 shows a conventionalpoultry cage 10 well known to the prior art comprised of a front panel12, back panel 14, top panel 16, bottom panel 18 and side panels 20.Each panel identified is generally comprised of a plurality of firstparallel wires 21 (FIG. 1 running in one direction and a plurality ofsecond parallel wires'23 running in a direction perpendicular to thefirst parallel wires. The wires are anchored or welded to each other ateach point of intersection. Except for the side walls 20, each panel isrectangular. Bottom panel 18 is inclined so that when an egg is layed bya hen, the egg will roll down the incline to the front of the cage intoan egg receiving trough 22 to permit easy removal thereof. A spacing 13between front panel 12 and bottom panel 18 allows the egg to roll freelyinto the tray. As a result of the inclined orientation of bottom panel18, side panels 20 should be generally trapezoidal in shape with thelower terminal edge 24 being sloped to conform to the incline of thebottom.

According to the prior art which is shown in both FIGS. 1 and 3, theside panels 20 are made by taking a rectangular piece of woven wirefabric as shown in FIG. 1 (a portion of which is shown in phantom) andcutting it along the bias line 24, the slope of which corresponds to theincline of bottom panel 18. The free ends of the wires 23 (in phantom)which do not extend to the marginal edge are then cut off at the nearesthorizontal wire 21. It will be appreciated that with this construction,the bottom panel 18 of the cage (FIG. 3) can be secured to the sidepanel at only the intersecting points 25, 27, 29 and 31 which greatlyreduces the strength of the entire cage and requires bottom panels ofgreater gauge. Therefore, a primary object of this invention is spacingis not extremely critical except for the bottom panel of thecage whichacts as an egg rolling surface inclined to permit the egg to roll intoegg receiving trough 22. Conventionally, the bottom panel wire spacingsare k inch by 2 inch or 1 inch by 2 inch, the longer dimension relating.to the sloped wires of the bottom panel. Recent discoverys in bottompanel configurations are disclosed in an earlier filed application by.Willis R. Voran, Ser. No. 824,767, Filed May 15, 1969, which applicationshares a common assignee with the instant application. There it isdisclosed that a horizontal spacing of )4 inch permits the least damagetoeggs at the least incline or slope of the bottom panel. Thus, thespacings, A and 8 preferably correspond to that of the bottom 'panel sothat the entire cage is constructed of similar wire fabric panels. Also,the overall configuration of the cage is then uniform.

Theinitial overall rectangular configuration of panel 40 (FIG. 2) isshown by the portions extended in phantom. Each traversing wire 42 and44 is rigidly interconnected, for example by welding. Thus, prior to theshaping operation, each side panel .is of a rigid one piececonfiguration. In order to shape the panel so that the lowermostmarginal edge wire 42a is at a preselected incline to match the inclineof bottom panel 18 (FIG. 4), selected portions of the vertical wires arecrimped between the horizontal wires to form the desired shape of theside panel. The effect of each crimp in a particular wire is to shortenthe overall length of that wire. Thus, by varying the magnitude ofcrimping in adjacent vertical wires each vertical wire is foreshortenedin varying amounts so that the bottom marginal wire 42a defines auniform slope.

Preferably, the marginal vertical wire 44:; which is attached tofrontpanel 12 is not crimped. This permits easy interconnection to the frontpanel and provides a smooth appearance. Beginning with wire 44b adjacentmarginal wire 44a, each vertical wire 44c, 44d etc. from front to backare progressively crimped in increasing magnitude to give the desiredslope to the lower marginal edge wire 42a of the side panel. Dependingon the degree of slope,'each vertical wire includes a plurality ofspaced crimped portions, each of which is intermediate to adjacenthorizontal wires beginning with the bottom two wires 42a and 421). Asshown in FIG. 2, only the lower portions of the vertical wires arecrimped in the embodiment shown. The magnitude and number of crimpsdepends mainly on the overall configuration sought in relation to thesize of the panel keeping in mind that one objective is an eye appealingpanel which does not look violently deformed.

Since the horizontal wires 42 are rigidly interconnected to eachvertical wire, the shortening of any particular vertical wire will causethe horizontal wires attached thereto to become gathered inward into acloser proximity to the next adjacent horizontal wire. Thus,

for example, the spacing between horizontal wires 42a and 42b is reducedat each point wherein the vertical wire therebetween is crimped. Themagnitude or degree of each particular crimp, if controlled in a uniformvaried fashion will provide a smooth reduction in the spacing betweentwo particular horizontal wires such as 42a, 42b, 420 etc. so that thehorizontal wires remain essentially horizontal although they do becomenon-parallel with respect to each other. Thus, referring to FIGS. 2 and4, the spacing between wires 42a and 42b at the rear end of cage 10 isless than the spacing between these wires at the'front end of the cagein order to obtain the slope desired. As a result thereof, the crimpedportions 50a, 50b, 50d etc. vary respectively in decreasing magnitudes.

An important advantage provided by the shaping of a panel according tothis invention is the elimination of having to cut any of the componentwires or weld the marginal edge. Also, all of the vertical wires44'contribute to the support of the horizontal wires and hence a lessergage wire can be utilized over prior constructions which cut thesubtended wires 23 as shown in FIG. 1. The smaller the wire thickness ofcourse, the more inexpensive the costs. Like-wise the reduction inmanual handling (cutting, welding etc.) the more inexpensive the costs.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CAGE In order to construct a poultry cage similarto that shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular panel of wire fabric 40 isprovided having a height equal to the height of front 12 plus that ofspacing 13, while its length is equal to the width of top 16. Theremaining dimensions of the trapezoidal side will be defined by theheight of back panel 14 and the slope of bottom panel 18. Generally, theslope of bottom 18 is less than 10 in order to prevent excessive eggbreakage.

Beginning with wire 44b, each wire is crimped starting from the pointintermediate wire 42b and marginal wire 42a. The magnitude of crimp asbetween any two horizontal wires is increased progressively from frontto back so that the reduction in length of each vertical wire likewiseincreases from front to back. In this fashion, marginal wire 42a issloped an amount equal to the slope of bottom panel 18. It will beappreciated that it will many times be necessary to crimp each verticalwire a plurality of times.

The remaining top, bottom, front and back panels of cage 10 arecomprised of pre-cut rectangular panels connected to sides 40 in aconventional fashion.

Although but one embodiment has been shown and described in detail, itwill be obvious to those having ordinary skill in this art that thedetails of construction of this particular embodiment may be modified ina great many ways without departing from the'unique concepts presented.Hence although the preferred embodiment is a poultry cage used for egglaying hens, it is not intended to be so limited. It is thereforeintended that the invention is limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims rather than by particular details of construction shown, exceptas specifically stated in the claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An improved poultry cage comprising a front, back, top, bottom andpair of side panels joined together to form an enclosed cage, saidbottom panel being inclined with respect to the side panel so that anegg layed by a hen will roll forwardly into an egg receiving trough, theimprovement comprising said side panels being comprised of a pluralityof generally horizontal and vertical wires interconnected to each otherat their respective points of traverse, selected ones of said verticalwires being crimped intermediate one or more pairs of adjacenthorizontal wires to shorten the overall length of each of said crimpedvertical wires so that at least said bottom horizontal wire is gatheredinto closer proximity to the top horizontal wire and non-parallel withit an amount equal to the slope of said bottom panel. v

2. The poultry cage according to claim 1 wherein the magnitude of crimpis progressively increased more and more from front to back to give thedesired slope to the lower marginal edge of said side panel.

3. The poultry cage according to claim 2 wherein said selected ones ofsaid vertical wires being crimped include a plurality of spaced crimpedportions along the lower portions of said wires, said plurality ofcrimped portions defining a locus of points intermediate a plurality ofpairs of adjacent horizontal wires.

4. The poultry cage according to claim 2 wherein the forward-mostvertical wire defining the leading marginal edge of said side panelsremains generally straight.

5. The poultry cage according to claim 2 wherein the periphery of saidside panels defines a trapezoid, the non-parallel side of said panelscorresponding to the slope of said bottom panels.

6. In an animal cage constructed of a plurality of panels, at least onepanel being constructed of a wire fabric composed of sets of a pluralityof parallel and intersecting wires, said parallel and intersecting wiresets being rigidly interconnected, said one panel having one terminaledge orientated at a desired angle by at least partially crimpingpredetermined wires of one set of said plurality of parallel wires.

7. The animal cage according to claim 6 wherein said cage includes abottom panel inclined with respect to the remaining panels, said onepanel being a side panel having parallel vertical wires, the lowerportions of predetermined ones of said vertical wires being crimped toshorten the overall length of each said predetermined vertical wires sothat at least the bottom intersecting wire defines a terminal edgeorientated with respect to said vertical wires at an angle of inclineequal to that of said bottom panel.

8. The animal cage according to claim 7 wherein said animal cage is apoultry cage, and said inclined bottom is adapted to urge eggs layedthereon to roll toward an egg receiving trough, said predetermined onesof said vertical wires being progressively crimped more and more fromfront to back' so that the lower marginal edges of said side panel isinclined at an angle corresponding to that of said bottom panel.

9. The method of shaping a panel of wire fabric having an initialpredetermined shape and constructed of a plurality of intersecting andrigidly interconnecting wires comprising the step of crimping one ormore wires at one or more spaced portions intermediate adjacent wiresconnected thereto so that the length of said crimped wire is shortened,and the other wires adjacent said crimped portions are gathered intocloser proximity to each other with the overall shape of said panelbeing controlled by the magnitude of said crimped portions.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said panel initially has arectangular shape and is comprised of a plurality of horizontal andvertical spaced wires welded together at their intersections, wherebysaid panel is shaped into a trapezoid by crimping a portion of eachvertical ,wire intermediate two horizontal wires, the magnitude of eachcrimped portion being less than the succeeding portion so that each wireis foreshortened a lesser amount than the succeeding one and thehorizontal wires adjacent said crimped portions are gathered into closerproximity to each other and become non-parallel.

1 1. The method according to claim 10 wherein a pair of identicaltrapezoidal panels is formed, said panels being interconnected to aplurality of rectangular panels along each edge to form a poultry cagehaving a bottom panel inclined with respect to the remaining panels sothat an egg layed on said bottom panel is propelled downwardly to an eggreceiving trough.

1. An improved poultry cage comprising a front, back, top, bottom andpair of side panels joined together to form an enclosed cage, saidbottom panel being inclined with respect to the side panel so that anegg layed by a hen will roll forwardly into an egg receiving trough, theimprovement comprising said side panels being comprised of a pluralityof generally horizontal and vertical wires interconnected to each otherat their respective points of traverse, selected ones of said verticalwires being crimped intermediate one or more pairs of adjacenthorizontal wires to shorten the overall length of each of said crimpedvertical wires so that at least said bottom horizontal wire is gatheredinto closer proximity to the top horizontal wire and non-parallel withit an amount equal to the slope of said bottom panel.
 2. The poultrycage according to claim 1 wherein the magnitude of crimp isprogressively increased more and more from front to back to give thedesired slope to the lower marginal edge of said side panel.
 3. Thepoultry cage according to claim 2 wherein said selected ones of saidvertical wires being crimped include a plurality of spaced crimpedportions along the lower portions of said wires, said plurality ofcrimped portions defining a locus of points intermediate a plurality ofpairs of adjacent horizontal wires.
 4. The poultry cage according toclaim 2 wherein the forward-most vertical wire defining the leadingmarginal edge of said side panels remains generally straight.
 5. Thepoultry cage according to claim 2 wherein the periphery of said sidepanels defines a trapezoid, the non-parallel side of said panelscorresponding to the slope of said bottom panels.
 6. In an animal cageconstructed of a plurality of panelS, at least one panel beingconstructed of a wire fabric composed of sets of a plurality of paralleland intersecting wires, said parallel and intersecting wire sets beingrigidly interconnected, said one panel having one terminal edgeorientated at a desired angle by at least partially crimpingpredetermined wires of one set of said plurality of parallel wires. 7.The animal cage according to claim 6 wherein said cage includes a bottompanel inclined with respect to the remaining panels, said one panelbeing a side panel having parallel vertical wires, the lower portions ofpredetermined ones of said vertical wires being crimped to shorten theoverall length of each said predetermined vertical wires so that atleast the bottom intersecting wire defines a terminal edge orientatedwith respect to said vertical wires at an angle of incline equal to thatof said bottom panel.
 8. The animal cage according to claim 7 whereinsaid animal cage is a poultry cage, and said inclined bottom is adaptedto urge eggs layed thereon to roll toward an egg receiving trough, saidpredetermined ones of said vertical wires being progressively crimpedmore and more from front to back so that the lower marginal edges ofsaid side panel is inclined at an angle corresponding to that of saidbottom panel.
 9. The method of shaping a panel of wire fabric having aninitial predetermined shape and constructed of a plurality ofintersecting and rigidly interconnecting wires comprising the step ofcrimping one or more wires at one or more spaced portions intermediateadjacent wires connected thereto so that the length of said crimped wireis shortened, and the other wires adjacent said crimped portions aregathered into closer proximity to each other with the overall shape ofsaid panel being controlled by the magnitude of said crimped portions.10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said panel initially has arectangular shape and is comprised of a plurality of horizontal andvertical spaced wires welded together at their intersections, wherebysaid panel is shaped into a trapezoid by crimping a portion of eachvertical wire intermediate two horizontal wires, the magnitude of eachcrimped portion being less than the succeeding portion so that each wireis foreshortened a lesser amount than the succeeding one and thehorizontal wires adjacent said crimped portions are gathered into closerproximity to each other and become non-parallel.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10 wherein a pair of identical trapezoidal panels isformed, said panels being interconnected to a plurality of rectangularpanels along each edge to form a poultry cage having a bottom panelinclined with respect to the remaining panels so that an egg layed onsaid bottom panel is propelled downwardly to an egg receiving trough.